Oilers insider drops mammoth Connor McDavid contract extension timeline update; ties it to Leon Draisaitl's wedding

Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid is entering the final year of his eight-year, $100 million contract signed in 2017. The season ended with yet another heartbreaking Stanley Cup Final loss to the Florida Panthers, and the Oilers and their superstar captain's camp are yet to engage in serious conversations regarding his future in Edmonton. That has got some fans concerned.

Oilers insider Bob Stauffer, however, dropped an update about the potential timeline of McDavid's contract extension on the "Oilers Now" podcast. Stauffer also named some other key players whom the Oilers will look to sign, including Mattias Ekholm, Jake Walman and Mac Gadowsky, to new contracts.

"I still believe 100% that Connor McDavid will be extended in the off season by the Edmonton Oilers. I know there’s some people freaking out. I would think that maybe things (extension talks) might get percolating a bit, maybe after Leon Draisaitl’s wedding… in the first weekend of August," said Stauffer.

Leon Draisaitl is set to marry his partner, Celeste Desjardins, in late July or early August. The couple have chosen to keep their wedding date private.

They recently attended ex-Oiler Warren Foegele's wedding, with many current and former players in attendance too. McDavid and his wife Lauren were unable to attend though as Connor's older brother Cameron got married to his fiancée, Sarah, around the same time.

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Maple Leafs, every Original Six team will line up for Connor McDavid if he hits free agency in 2026, says insider

As mentioned above, there haven't been any concrete advancements in Connor McDavid's contract extension talks with the Oilers since the end of the season. NHL fans and media have been in a frenzy over his potential landing spot after the 2025-26 season in case he doesn't re-sign with the Oilers and becomes an unrestricted free agent.

On "The Steve Dangle Podcast", top insider Chris Johnston even considered the likelihood of McDavid joining his hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, in 2026 NHL free agency.

"(59:15) Of course, the Leafs — they've been nuts. But again, I think any of the Original Six teams are probably feeling like they could be in that mix if they're good enough," said Johnston.

According to Johnston, Connor McDavid could entertain the idea of joining any of the Original Six teams - Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks & Detroit Red Wings. He added that McDavid would hold all the cards in the negotiation with any of these teams if it ever comes down to leaving the Oilers, and that any potential suitor would need to make him the highest-paid player in the league.